Brooklyn, NY — Jamaican Jerk House #1, a Caribbean restaurant at 507 Pine Street in East New York, received a score of 31 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 12, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade issued under NYC's restaurant grading system.

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the visit, including evidence of rats on the premises. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 17, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The March 12 inspection identified two critical violations at the Pine Street location:

Evidence of rats was documented in the establishment's food or non-food areas, cited under violation code 04K. The presence of rodents or rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation because of the direct risk of contamination to food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas.

Inspectors also cited the restaurant under violation code 06F for wiping cloths not being stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses. Improperly stored wiping cloths can harbor bacteria and serve as a vehicle for cross-contamination between surfaces.

Both violations were classified as critical, meaning they are conditions most likely to contribute to foodborne illness or injury. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain conditions that prevent pest harborage and ensure proper sanitation of food-contact surfaces. The presence of rodent activity is among the most commonly cited critical violations across the city's roughly 27,000 inspected restaurants.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, requires that food establishments be maintained free of pests and that cloths used for wiping food-contact surfaces be stored in sanitizing solution of appropriate concentration between uses. These requirements exist because rodent contamination and improper sanitation practices are well-documented contributors to foodborne illness.

Violation code 04K — evidence of rats or live rats — carries significant point weight in the city's scoring system, reflecting the serious public health concern associated with rodent activity in food preparation environments.

Inspection History

The March 2026 result represents a decline from the restaurant's most recent graded inspection. A review of publicly available DOHMH records shows the following inspection history for this location:

  • March 12, 2026: Score 31, Grade C — two critical violations including evidence of rats
  • November 22, 2024: Score 19, Grade B — the restaurant's most recent prior graded result
  • June 26, 2024: Score 21 — initial inspection score before adjudication
  • January 25, 2023: Score 13, Grade A — the establishment's best recorded performance
  • October 11, 2022: Score 32 — a previous result in Grade C range

The pattern shows the restaurant earned a Grade A in early 2023 before scores increased to Grade B range in 2024. The current score of 31 is comparable to the October 2022 result of 32, both falling in the Grade C range.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total points accumulated during health inspections. Points are assessed for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values. The grading scale is:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points — the establishment is in substantial compliance with health regulations
  • Grade B: 14–27 points — moderate violations were identified
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations were documented

A score of 31 falls in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or contest the results through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Grade cards must be posted at the restaurant entrance where they are visible to the public.

NYC restaurant inspection results are public record and can be accessed through the DOHMH restaurant inspection portal. Consumers can search any restaurant's current grade, violation history, and inspection dates. The data used in this report was sourced from the publicly available DOHMH dataset released on March 17, 2026, based on the inspection conducted on March 12, 2026.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Jamaican Jerk House #1 including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.